The gym is just like a classroom or an office—there are important rules you need to follow in order to keep everyone safe and to ensure it runs efficiently. Rules are also there to stop you from looking like a rookie in the gym who isn’t sure what’s going on.
This is especially true when it comes to the barbell.
If you’re doing any of the following, chances are you look a bit like a rookie (bless your heart), and might also be causing a ruckus by putting yourself or another lifter in danger. Or at the very least, you’re probably mildly annoying those lifting around you.
1. Plates On Plates On Plates
Are you the person who has a barbell loaded with a set of 15lb plates, two sets of 10s, three sets of 5s and 2 sets of 2.5s? Not only are you hogging all the small plates in the gym, but you also look a little ignorant.
Here’s the rule: If you can put on a larger denomination weight plate, do so. In the latter case, you have 50-pounds on the bar, so you should replace the multiple 15-, 10-, and five-pound plates with one 45-pound and one 2.5-pound plate on each side.
2. You Don’t Step Up to The Bar
This might be my biggest pet peeve as a coach. Are you the athlete who bends down to do a deadlift or a clean before you have stepped up to the bar? If you don’t approach the bar properly, then you have to pull the bar towards you while you’re all bent and hunched over — and then you automatically end up out of position before you even start the lift.
Instead, step up to the bar until your shins are touching the bar and then take a breath before hinging on down in a perfect position to set up for your lift. Not only will you be in a better position, but you’ll look a little bit more bad ass. Almost like you know what you’re doing.
3. You Drop Stuff
Three things that should never be dropped:
- Empty barbells (or barbells without rubber plates)
- Dumbbells (at least not from above knee-height)
- Kettlebells
Not only is it hard on the equipment, but it’s also loud and obnoxious when you drop a barbell full of steel.
4. You Ignore Your Surroundings
If your gym has platforms, you probably know not to stand on the platform when someone else is lifting. But if you don’t have platforms, it’s less obvious how far away you need to be, so I often see people walk right in front or right behind someone who is setting up for a lift, putting you both at risk for a human on human, or human on barbell, collision.
Bottom line: Be aware of your surroundings and be deliberate about the space you give others when they have a barbell in their hands.
5. Improper Barbell Unloading
Nothing says I’m oblivious to barbell etiquette more than letting your barbell smash to the ground as you aggressively strip the 45-pound plate from it. Instead, place a hand on the barbell and lower it to the floor nicely as you strip the weight.
6. You Don’t Ask For a Spotter
If you’re even remotely close to potentially failing the lift, don’t be shy. Ask for a spotter.
This rule especially applies to the bench press. If you’re comfortable ditching the bar off your back during a back squat, then just make extra sure you have tons of space behind you.
7. You Don’t Respect the Programming
If you’re following a program that prescribes percentages, respect the exact percentages programmed for you each day.
There’s probably a reason for them, even if they seem “too light.” Don’t go heavier because you think you know better, or round the weight up or down because you’re too lazy to take the time to change the weights to adhere to the percentages.
You Have to Follow the Rules
The saying “rules are meant to be broken” isn’t the case when it comes to the barbell. Broken rules can lead to broken bodies in this setting, or at the very least lead to rookie mistakes that will subject you to mocking.
